Banana-crate.



W. K. BAYLBSS.

BANANA CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1914.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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W. K. BAYLESS.

BANANA CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1914.

1,125,255. Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,686.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. BAYLEss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banana- Crat'es; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel knockdown crate particularly designed for use in transporting bananas, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate which can be stored in quantities in fiat or knocked down condition and can be readily set up by a salesman when same are to be used: and in which a bunch of bananas can be safely packed and stored without in jury; and which will be so cheap that the dealer can afford to give away a crate with a bunch of bananas if he wants to ship same; and such crates may be reused if desired.

The principal features of the crate are the novel interlocking ends of the bottom and top hoops or bands which can be readily connected when the crate is set up; the novel construction of the bottom hoop, whereby it supports the removable crate bottom when the crate is set up; and other novel details of construction that will be hereinafter described; and the accompanying drawings illustrate crates embodying the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side View of the preferred form of crate. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View thereof on line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the locking joints, on line 44, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of the crate knocked down. Fig. 6 is a side view of a modified form of crate. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5. the bodyof the crate or barrel is preferably composed of slats 1 of any suitable material, such as light wood; which slats are spaced apart and are connected to thin metal hoopstrips 2 and 3 at top and bottom, and also con nected at intermediate points by additional hoop strips, which are preferably of wire, as indicated at 4 in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The hoop strips 2 and 3 are preferably made of thin metal and are flexible, and the slats may be fastened to such strips by rivets as indicated at 1 or other suitable means. The bottom strip 3 projects beyond the outermost slats when the crate is knocked down, as indicated in Fig. 5, and is provided with interlocking ends which are preferably formed by making oppositely opening notches 8 and 8 in the sides of the strip near its ends, which notches can be engaged as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 to lock the hoop when the crate is set up. Casual disengagement of the interlocked ends may be prevented by bending the end ofone of the elongated tongues 3 at the outside of the notch 8 over the edge of the interlocked end of the strip, as indicated in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. Similarly the upper hoop strip 2 is provided with notches 2 2 and a'locking tongue 2.

When the'crate is set up these notched strip ends are interlocked as shown and hold the crate in cylindric form; and the crate can be kept in this form by means of a circular bottom plate 5 which may be of wood, or metal, orcomposite.

To provide a convenient and secure support for the bottom plate 5 when the crate is set up, the upper edge of the bottom strip 3 is provided with lugs or tongues 3 intermediate the slats, which tongues are bent over at right angles to the body of the strip and project inward between the slats and into the crate, when set up, and form an annular series of supports upon which the bottom 5 rests as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The parts 3 in the construction shown also serves to space the slats apart at their lower edges and practically prevent collapse and facilitate making up of the crate.

The hoop strips 4 preferably have eyes 4* on one end, and their other ends can be inserted through such eyes when the crate is set upand twisted to securely unite them. These wires 4 may be secured to the slats in any suitable manner and by any suitable means, staples 4 being shown for examples in the drawings. Instead of wires the intermediate hoop strips may be made of thin metal like the hoop strips 2 and 3, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Preferably a flexible covering 6*, of any suitable material is attached to the upper edge of the crate and may be conveniently secured in position by interposing the lower edge of the cover between the strip 2 and the slats 1 so that the cover is secured to the crate by the same fastenings which unite the strips and slats. If it is desired to close the top more securely than by fabric the upper hoop 2 may be provided with inwardly projecting tongues 2 corresponding to the tongues 8 on the lower strip; which tongues can be bent inward to hold a removable cover 6 in position as indicated in Fig. 7. The intermediate hoop strips 4 may be provided with notched interlocking ends 4 which correspond to the notched interlocking ends of the strips 2 and 3, only it is not necessary for the intermediate hoop strips to have locking tongues as 2 or 3, though such may be used if desired.

These crates are intended to be made up and left in fiat or knocked-down condition as illustrated in Fig. 5. to use a crate it may be bent into shape. over a suitable former, not shown, if desired, and

the ends of the hoop stripsinterlocked and fastened. The bottom 5 can then he slipped into position and seated upon the tongues 2 as shown in Figs; 2 and 3 and the top can be folded over and tied as indicated: or the top 6 can be inserted as indicated in Fi 7. When set up the crate is practically cylindric in form and it is obviousthat it can be manufactured very cheaply and erected very quickly, and it can be easily taken down and re-used if desired, although I propose to make them so cheaply that they need not be re-used.

The crates are particularly designed for use in shipping bananas in the bunch and if designed for use for one trip only may be made of light material and very cheaply. When used for packing bunch bananas, which are packed with the large end down, my crate being cylindrical afiords' ample room for the bunch, and is practically the same size at both ends so that the large end of the bunch is not crushed or bruised when packed in my crates. In using this crate the bunch can be laid on a knocked-down crate and the latter then closed around the bunch so that practically the. bunch is packed before the crate is set up. The crate can be used repeatedly untilworn out.

What I claim is:

1. Aeknockdown crate comprising a plurality of slats, flexible strips" extending When it is desired across and connected to the slats and adapted to form hoops when the crate is set up, the lower strip having inwardly projec'ting tongues adapted to support a bottom piece.

2. A knockdown crate comprising a plurality of slats, flexible strips extending across and connected to the slats and adapted to form hoops when the crate is set up, the lower strip having inwardly projecting tongues adapted to support the bottom when the crate is set up, substantially as described.

3. A. knockdown crate comprising a plurality of slats, flexible strips extending across and connected to the slats and adapted to form hops when the crate is set up, and a lower strip having inwardly projecting tongues adapted to support the bottom, such strips having notched interlocking ends, and intermediate wire hoops attached to the strips adapted to have their ends engaged when the crate is set up, substantially as described.

4. A knockdown crate comprising a plurality of slats, flexible strips extending across'and' connected to the slats, and adapted to form hoops when the crate is set up, the lower strip having inwardly projecting tongues adapted to support a bottom piece, and a flexible covering strip secured between the upper ends of the slats and the connecting strips.

A knockdown crate comprising a plurality of slats, flexible strips extending across and connected to the slats and adapted to form hoops when the crate is set up, and a lower strip having inwardly projecting tongues adapted to support the bottom,

such strips having notched interlocking ends, and intermediate wire hoops attached to the strips adapted to have their ends engaged when the crate is set up, and a flexible covering strip secured between the upper ends of the slats and the connecting strips.

6. A knockdown crate comprising a plurality of slats, and flexible strips extending across and connected to the slats and adapted to form hoops when the crate is set up, said strips having overlapped ends provided with notches in their opposed edges said notches being interlocked, one end or" the strip being provided with a laterally extending tongue adapted to be bent over the edge of the interlocked end of the strip, sub stantially as described.

7. A knockdown crate comprising a plurality of slats, and flexible strips extending across and connected to the slats and adapted to form hoops when the crate is set up, said strips having overlapped ends provided with notches in their opposed edges said notches being interlocked, one end of the tially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WlLLIAM K. BAYLESS.

strip being provided with a laterally extending tongue adapted to be bent over the edge of the interlocked end of the strip, and intermediate hoop Wires attached to the strips and adapted to have their ends attached when the crate is set up, substan- Witnesses: I

Tnos. R. GARDN R, TALBOTT CLAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents.

Washington, D. C. 

